Longstreet Golden Thread Helen Dortch Longstreet in Pictures

I don't know what to do about the fallacy because just this past week, in "Wooed to the Warrior's Tent" she says she met him while at school and he asked her if she knew a certain Dortch and it was a relative and she said "he kissed her on each cheek." Yet the numbers you have don't add up. So a mystery for us to hunt down!
 
I don't know what to do about the fallacy because just this past week, in "Wooed to the Warrior's Tent" she says she met him while at school and he asked her if she knew a certain Dortch and it was a relative and she said "he kissed her on each cheek." Yet the numbers you have don't add up. So a mystery for us to hunt down!

Perhaps she was in school and working at the library. That is a mystery! Put on your detective cap!
 
This is from the "Georgia Encyclopedia:"

Born in Carnesville on April 20, 1863, Longstreet was the daughter of Mary Pulliam and James Speed Dortch.
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Helen Dortch Longstreet
She was educated at Brenau College (later Brenau University) in Gainesville and the Notre Dame Convent in Baltimore, Maryland. While at Brenau she met General James Longstreet, the controversial Confederate officer and father of her roommate. She later described that first encounter with Longstreet in an unpublished essay, "Wooed to the Warrior's Tent," held in the Helen Dortch Longstreet Papers at the Atlanta History Center. The couple married on September 8, 1897. Helen Dortch was thirty-four and the general was seventy-six. General Longstreet died six years later on January 2, 1904. The couple had no children.
 
In late July 1897, General Longstreet became quite smitten with Helen Dortch. Various newspapers picked up on rumors that he was taking another bride, but he played coy with one persistent New York reporter before he finally confirmed the news.

"The General crossed his legs, looked out over the fields again, and replied: 'Oh, pshaw! Well, I suppose I might as well give in. I am to be married to Miss Dortch at noon on Wednesday in the Governor's residence in Atlanta. The honeymoon is to be spent in Porter Springs, where I hope you newspaper men will leave an old man to the happiness he has acquired."

On September 8, 1897, General Longstreet and Helen -- described on her wedding day as "pretty, piquant and sympathetic," with blue eyes, blond hair and fair skin -- exchanged vows in the parlor of the governor's mansion. It was reported in various newspapers that among those in attendance were the Gainesville mayor, a large group of Longstreet's friends and all of the General's five children. "They all warmly congratulated their new stepmother," one newspaper noted, "which should dispose of the story that there was any friction because of the marriage." Helen had picked the wedding date in honor of the General, who as an officer 50 years earlier, had heroically led his regiment at Molina Del Rey during the Mexican War.

Governor William Atkinson served as best man for General Longstreet during the Catholic ceremony. "When the officiating priest, after having asked the groom the question of assent, turned to Miss Dortch to know if she would take James as her husband," a newspaper reported, "it carried the suggestion to the groom's heart that he was a boy again, paddling in the Savannah River."

I really like this account and hope that it is true.

Sources: John Banks’ Blogspot & the New York Times-September 1897
 
Well I put on my detective cap @NH Civil War Gal and here's what I found. While it is true that Helen attended Gainesville Seminary (now Brenau University) in 1884, she was back at home and publishing her father’s newspaper, the "Tribune," in 1885 (her father remained as editor of the paper). Helen returned to school at Notre Dame of Maryland University from 1887-89 and then resumed her work on the "Tribune" in June, 1890. She was serving as Assistant State Librarian in 1894 when she met General Longstreet. He was doing research for his book. The book was completed and published in 1896 and by the end of July, 1897 Helen had captured his heart and they were engaged to be married.

Sources:
Holmes, William F. "Ellen Dortch and the Farmers' Alliance" published in The Georgia Historical Quarterly. #69
Harrington, Hugh T. (2005). Civil War Milledgeville: Tales from the Confederate Capital of Georgia, p. 69.

*I have noticed in my numerous readings about Helen that some folks referred to her as Ellen.
 
Another goodie! This picture was taken at the ceremony dedicating Helen's portrait at the capitol building in Atlanta, Georgia. Can you see her portrait in the upper left on the wall? There's UCV Commander Julius F. Howell once again and I think that's Jamie Longstreet in the back on the left (wearing a hat). Maybe Commander Howell was a little sweet on Helen. :giggle:

Helen portrait.jpg

Longstreet Society FB

I have posted the portrait before, but I think it's worth sharing here. I think Helen looks beautiful!
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Gettysburg Sculptures
 
Thank you for all the information on Mrs. Longstreet!! I had read some of this but didn't know all I know about her now. With state hospitals run the way they were for those with dementia - I wonder how she was treated in the hospital. There should be a monument to Mrs. Helen Longstreet for all she did and tried to do!! She was truly an amazing woman.
 
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